Multiple waves of floods in Assam are a natural phenomenon, but the escalation in extreme weather events has been eroding the resilience of farmers. Nearly 60 % of the state’s cropland is rainfed, and assured irrigation coverage is still grossly inadequate. The occurrence of large excess rain or a sudden dry spell at various stages of paddy cultivation adversely affects farm production. Also, due to flooding of paddy fields leading to submergence of crops on account of early monsoon or heavy spells during pre-monsoon rain, crop damage results. Farmers adopting flood-resistant varieties which withstand long submergence is critical to sustain the resilience against annual flooding. The practice of monocropping in most areas increases the vulnerability, as crop damage on account of extreme weather events or submergence leaves the farmers marginalised due to income loss. As 85 per cent of farmers are small and marginal, it is difficult for them to absorb the shocks of crop loss. Bao Dhaan is a traditional rice variety that has characteristics of submergence tolerance and can survive submergence up to a depth of 3 to 4 metres and for about a month. Compared to high-yielding rice varieties, this traditional deepwater rice variety takes much longer to mature, and yield is also less, due to which farmers, except where it is traditionally grown, are not keen to adopt it. However, due to its high nutritional value, Bao Dhaan is gaining popularity in global markets and fetching premium prices for growers. This has encouraged traditional growers to expand the area under it in flood-prone areas of Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Majuli, and Sivasagar to leverage its flood-resistant characteristics and premium market linkage. The introduction of several other submergence-tolerant rice varieties developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and Assam Agricultural University has been introduced among farmers in the state. Despite an increase in the number of farmers adopting these varieties, the popularity of such flood-resistant varieties is yet to gain momentum because of multiple challenges. The availability of quality seeds continues to be a huge challenge for farmers due to the wide demand-supply gap in respect of flood-resistant as well as other varieties which are popular among the majority of farmers. Production of certified seeds has not been given the required attention in Assam, which increases dependence of farmers on supply of seeds procured from other states. This ground reality brings to the fore the challenges associated with commercial cultivation of new stress-tolerant (both flood and drought) varieties. Without ensuring availability of the new varieties at affordable prices, farmers will not be keen to adopt as they do not want to be gripped by the uncertainty in the next season and prefer to stick to the varieties for which seeds and fertilisers are available in the market. Mobilising more Farmer Producer Companies (FPC) in the state to grow quality seeds can fill the gap and reduce dependence on supplies from outside. Ironically, the Assam Seeds Corporation Limited, which was mandated to ensure availability of quality seeds, failed miserably to cater to the growing demand. The introduction of flood-resistant varieties among the farmers requires comprehensive planning for the production of seeds, which is not possible without focused policy intervention. Identifying the gaps without evolving solutions to bridge them serves no purpose. Undertaking evaluation and impact studies of interventions is crucial to address the persistent problems. Increasing the crop insurance coverage both in terms of area and eligible amount for compensation against the loss due to flood is essential to reduce agrarian distress withdrawal from the farm sector to the non-farm sector. Agriculture being a skilled livelihood, withdrawing farm families from it and shifting to non-agriculture livelihood avenues leads to loss of acquired skills. Besides, the traditional knowledge on farming techniques, characteristics of local and indigenous varieties, and adoption of modern farming practices are also lost due to the shiftt to a new livelihood option. A rise in extreme weather conditions, an increase in flood intensity, and the aggravation of the erosion problem have increased the vulnerability of rain-dependent farmers in the state. Large-scale outmigration of youth belonging to farm households due to agrarian crises precipitated by climate change impact and an increase in flood intensity has pressed the alarm bell on the food security and rural economy of the state. Ending uncertainty in farming and leaving the hard labour put in by farmers in growing paddy on their fields at the mercy of inclement and uncertain weather and annual ravaging floods requires a scientific approach of adopting flood-resistant varieties which fetch premium prices. Farmer-led seed production programme can ensure greater participation in official programmes and schemes aimed at increasing the resilience of farmers. The Agriculture Department drawing a comprehensive roadmap of increasing flood resilience of farmers in the state has become an urgent necessity. Consultation with farmers’ groups, FPCs and other stakeholders in the farm sector, including traders and aggregators, is necessary to make the exercise of preparing the roadmap result-orientated and fruitful.